The 1200-hectare Jaguar Ecological Reserve is federally registered with the National Reserve of Natural Heritage. The Reserve was created in 1999 with the help of the non-profitFocus Conservation Fund. Its owner, a local Pantaneira family, has pledged to preserve it and the lodge’s profits are reinvested to buy more land for the Reserve.

The Reserve is located in the Northern Pantanal at Kilometer 110 of the Transpantaneira Highway. In the dry season (May-November), it is about a three-hour drive from Poconé and a four-hour drive from Cuiabá. It may take longer in the rainy season (December-April). We are happy to pick up guests from Poconé and Cuiabá. Travelers who have made independent arrangements for guides and drivers are also welcome.

For three centuries, livestock farming has been the dominant economic activity in the Pantanal. For a number of reasons, ranching has become less profitable in the Pantanal since the 1970s. As a result, unfortunately many traditional Pantanal families have had to leave their farms and move to cities outside the Pantanal.

We started our store to develop an economical alternative to cattle raising. We are proving that ecotourism can be a sustainable source of income for farmers. Local-owned tourism ventures, such as the Jaguar Ecological Reserve, provide much-needed employment for the Pantaneiros. We want to preserve not only the jaguars and other wild animals of the Pantanal, but also our unique culture.

With the help of our friends and supporters over the years, we have improved and expanded our lodge. While we host more and more guests each year, we strive to maintain an intimate, family atmosphere at the lodge. At the moment our clients leave, they feel as if they are part of our family. We donated land to the Juara Foundation and participated in social projects, such as the non-governmental organization Panthera Brasil, to construct the School Pantaneira Brazil on the Jofre Velho farm.

Guides

We are proud to employ only experienced English-speaking guides. This guarantees our guests an unparalleled experience on the unique culture and biodiversity of the Pantanal. Our guides offer a full range of activities– from birdwatching to nature walks through the forest, from wildlife drives to fishing and boat tours. Guides take scopes, field guides, and recordings to aid in locating and identifying wildlife. Guests should stay at least two nights to make the most of their trip. The average stay is three nights.

Eduardo Falcão is the only Pantaneiro lodge owner and guide in the region. He was born and raised in the Pantanal. Son of a jaguar hunter and farmer, Eduardo grew up with a deep awareness of the Pantanal’s culture, history and wildlife and is happy to share with his guests. Eduardo speaks English very well. In 2003, Eduardo traveled to the United States to raise awareness about the threats to culture and biodiversity in the Pantanal. He is an experienced birder and intimately familiar with hundreds of species in the Pantanal. Eduardo is also available to guide trips in the Amazon and Mata Atlântica do Brasil, where he travels several times a year.

Abbie Martin is an American zoologist and founder of theJaguar Identification Project(JIP). Abbie specializes in animal behavior with a focus on jaguar ecology. After visiting the Northern Pantanal as a college student in 2013, she became infatuated with the sheer biodiversity of the Pantanal, which inspired her project. JIP uses citizen science as a means to study individual jaguars in the Porto Jofre region. Throughout her studies and practices in the Pantanal, Abbie has become a knowledgeable naturalist and well rounded bird guide.

We have built a network of trails throughout the Reserve. The trails allow guests to explore a variety of the Pantanal’s habitats, from grasslands to forests. Most of our trails are loops, so hikers can spend as much or as little time as they wish exploring.

Walking & Horseback Riding in the Pantanal enables guests to view wildlife up-close and to get to know the plants of the area. The mammals most often see while hiking are capuchin monkeys, black and gold howler monkeys, and South American coati. It is often possible to follow the monkeys as they travel across the forests – an unforgettable experience. Birding along the trails is also excellent. Many grassland and forest species are abundant; our guides can help to locate less common species as well.

Our staff is very familiar with the Pantanal’s plants and trees. We will be happy to help identify common species and to relate their medicinal and culinary uses.

We are happy to offer comfortable accommodation in a remote environment rich in wildlife. We are located in the heart of one of the best wildlife habitats in the world. By staying with us, you contribute directly to a successful ecotourism program in the heart of the Pantanal.

The Reserve has 13 rooms fully equipped with air conditioning, minibar, private bathroom with hot water for showers, hair dryers and Wi-Fi.

We have our own six-passenger boats to take guests on the Cuiabá River. We are also happy to arrange boat trips on the Pixaim River. Additional boats are available for hire for larger groups. Both rivers can be reached in less than an hour from the Reserve.

Boat trips provide an excellent opportunity to view giant river otters up-close. This is often the highlight of visitors’ trips to Brazil. In the dry season, we will 100% see jaguars on the exposed beaches of the rivers – a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Other wildlife commonly seen on the river are capybara and caiman. Birds frequently encountered include kingfishers, egrets, storks, herons and terns.

If you have the time, we highly recommend adding an early morning or evening boat trip to your itinerary. It allows you to enjoy a spectacular sunrise or sunset, while viewing wildlife from a unique perspective.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as afternoon tea, are included. Guests enjoy family-style dining of local dishes prepared from local ingredients. Fresh fruits and vegetables from our gardens, fish caught in nearby rivers and streams, and beef and poultry from our ranch, provide the basis for delicious meals. Our guests regularly rate our meals as among the best they have during their visits to Brazil.

We also offer a selection of ice-cold Brazilian beers, soft-drinks and bottled water. Imported wines from Chile and Argentina and assorted cocktails are also available. Our specialty is the Brazilian Caipirinha – a blend of sugarcane rum, fresh limes, sugar and crushed ice that is the perfect treat after a day of exploring!

Transportation

The Jaguar Ecological Reserve is located in the northern Pantanal at Kilometer 110 of the Transpantaneira Highway. In the dry season (May-November), it is about a three-hour drive from Poconé and a four-hour drive from Cuiabá. It may take longer in the wet season (December-April).

The Reserve is the southernmost ecotourism lodge along the Transpantaneira and the extra driving time is well worth the effort. Our remote location offers guests the opportunity to enjoy the Pantanal at its most pristine. Wildlife is more abundant near the Reserve than at other lodges closer to Poconé and Cuiabá. Our guests enjoy unmatched solitude, far from the heavily visited areas farther north.

We are happy to pick up guests arriving in Cuiabá and Poconé. Please contact us in advance to make the necessary arrangements. Travelers who have made independent arrangements for guides and drivers are also welcome at the Reserve.

One of the best ways to locate and observe wildlife near the Reserve is from the back of one of our specially-designed four-wheel drive vehicles. Drives along the Transpantaneira Highway as well as private roads near the Reserve provide guests with a safe and comfortable way to view an incredible array of mammals, birds and reptiles.

Photographers will have ample opportunities to record their adventures. Our guides are eager to help you take the best photos possible, from recommending picture-perfect locations to waiting patiently for the right light conditions. We are delighted to help you photograph the breathtaking sunsets, diverse flora and fauna, and the famous cowboys of the Pantanal.

One popular trip takes visitors to the vast marshland of Campo Jofre, a short drive south of the Reserve. Here large groups of capybaras and caimans gather along the waterways and are easily observed. We often see marsh deer and anaconda in Campo Jofre. This is an excellent spot to find jaguars and ocelots.

To view the most wildlife and avoid the midday heat, drives usually take place in the early morning and late afternoon. We also highly recommend nighttime drives, when we use spotlights to find wildlife more easily. Among the mammals we commonly observe at night are crab-eating foxes, tapirs, ocelots and, with a little luck, jaguars.

Birdwatching

The Pantanal is a world-class birdwatching destination. No matter what time of year you choose to visit, you will have the opportunity to easily view hundreds of species. Birds and other wildlife in the Pantanal are easily seen in its open grasslands, marshes and islands of forests, in contrast to the Amazon Basin, where wildlife is often difficult to find in the dense rainforest. Whether you are an expert birder or have never tried birdwatching before, we guarantee you will be amazed by the birdlife of the Pantanal.

We can tailor your itinerary based on your level of expertise and interests in any particular species. Our guests typically enjoy birdwatching in a number of ways, such as going on walks, drives and boat trips. Nighttime outings with spotlights often result in close sightings of owls, potoos and nightjars.

Hyacinth macaws, the largest parrots in the world, live on the Reserve and are easily seen in trees surrounding the lodge. Numerous other species of macaws, parrots and parakeets, as well as toucans, trogons, woodpeckers, herons, storks, birds of prey and hummingbirds, are abundant. You will be amazed by the beauty and diversity of the birds of the region!

For more advanced birders, our local guides have the expertise, equipment and patience to locate some of the Pantanal’s most elusive bird species. Guides carry spotting scopes, field guides, recordings and playback equipments. Bird lists are available.

Other Activities

At the Jaguar Ecological Reserve we will do everything necessary to make your stay as fulfilling as possible. If you have any special interests or needs, just let us know and we can design a perfect itinerary. For example, depending on the season we can arrange extended fishing trips or camping. We can take you to neighboring ranches should you wish to learn more about the local culture. We regularly host professional photographers and film crews for extended periods.

Our guides can also accompany you to other destinations in the Pantanal or beyond. Should you wish to spend time at another lodge, we can make arrangements for you. A popular destination outside the Pantanal is Chapada dos Guimarães – a spectacular area of red cliffs, waterfalls, and arid cerrado landscapes located approximately 55 kilometers from Cuiabá. Our guides regularly lead trips to Chapada and will be happy to accompany your group. Spending a day or two in Chapada allows visitors a glimpse at a completely different ecosystem than the Pantanal. Birders will delight in the many endemic species present in Chapada.